James pappa



(No Model.) J. P-APBA,

- FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 275,514. [Patented Apr.10,1883.

N. PETERS. Pido-Lma. www.. D' c UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE.

JAMESPAPFA, OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,514, dated April l0, 1883.

Application filed February 15, 1883. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES PAPPA, a natu-` ralized citizen of the United States, residing at Oswego, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, havel invented certain new and y useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it yappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specifcation.

This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the escape of persons from burning buildings; and it consists in the construction and combination of devices hereinafter par,-V ticularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective View ofv a building provided with my improved lire-escape apparatus, Fig. 2 represents a detail View of one of the traveling pulley-blocks for suspending the lad-l ders and baskets. Fig. 3 represents a detail view of one of the folding baskets. Fig. 4 represents a detail view of one of the flexible ladders. Fig. 5 represents a detail view of a supplemental ladder for allowing escape from the roof. Fig. represents a vertical sectional detail view of one of the blocks and its pul leys and certain devices for preventing-the ro# tation of the lower pulley when the descending basket draws the chain over tbe latter, said view being taken from the side next the building; and Fig. 7 represents in detail the spring-hook which holds the endless chain together, the nearer ot' said chain being shown also.

A designates the building to which the tireescape apparatus is applied B, an iron track, rigidly suspended by hooks bfrom the cornice a; andO, ahorizontal rod, supported rigidly on top of said cornice Yby brackets o. Both the track below and the guidefrod above are carried around the corners ot the building without sharp angles. This construction ot' the track B allows the re-escape ladders and baskets to be shiftedfrom one side or face of the building to another, as needed.

D designates a series of blocks or frames,

each of which is open at the middle to allow it to be set upon said track, and provided in its upper part with a pulley, d, which rests on said track. The lower end ot each block or .frame D is provided with a hook, d', and at least one of them has,in addition, a pulley, cl2, near its lower end. This lower pulley, d2, receives an endless chain, (marked E,) to which a basket, F, is detachably secured on one side by means of a spring-hook, j', which also serves to allow the chain itself to be opened and removed from its block when desired. This basket consists ot' an open-work bottom,F, aA rim, F2, bail'F3, and oblique curved side links,y F4. Eyes f are formed on the said bottom, and corresponding eyes,f2,are formed on said rim,the side li nks,F4, bein gloosely connected to said eyesf and f2, so that they will turn and allow the basket to be folded or flattened, as shown in Fig; 3. The spring-hookfcatches over the bail F3, and the chain E passes through the bottom of the basket to guide it in an upright position. When a person desiri n g to escape steps in top it, he grasps the opposite side of thef,.cllain"and'fl'etshimselfwgradf ually down, his n weight furnishing the motive power. The" pressure ot' his weighton the bottom F and thedraft-through his hands and chain E upon bail F3 operate to keep said basket d istended. The chain should be long enough to reach the ground, or at least to be grasped by a person standing on the ground, so that the said chain may be pulled to raise or lower said basket, and to move it laterally to thc point where it is needed. When out of use said basket may be folded or flattened, as before described, and hung on hook d. Ot' course these baskets may be as numerousas desired, though only one is shown. They should be made of some incombustible material, preferably wrought-in etal rods,round or dat, or strong wire.

G designates arigid ladder, and H a flexible ladder, which are hung, respectively, to hooks d' of other blocks D. These ladders should be of such length that they may be vreached from the ground and moved laterally to the point where needed.

I designates asupplemental ladder, provided on its back with hooks t', which may be caught over horizontal rod O. This ladder allows par- IOO ties on the roof to escape therefrom to one of the baskets or lower ladders suspended from the track below. Under ordinary circumstances all theladders and baskets supported by said track are assembled at the leastconspicuous point at the back ofthe building. On the alarm of fire they are grasped from below and hurried to the threatened point. There is no need for any one to ascend to the root` or enter the building, except for the purpose of disengaging the baskets from the hooks d. Even this may be made unnecessaryby shortening each spring-hook f', so that it will not prevent the chain E from heilig pulled through the block D sufficiently to lift bail F3 in each instance oif from hook d'.

Instead of hanging the tiexible ladders on hooks d', they may be hung on the lower parts of the blocks or frames D. Any one ot' the lower rounds may then be caught upon the hook d', in each instance, to shorten the ladder or retain it folded out of the way.

The lower pulley, d2, over which passes the endless chain E, preferably has attached toit a ratchet-wheel, O, which is adapted and arranged to engage with a spring-pressed dog, P, attached to the block D, thereby locking said pulley d2 against rotation when the basket F descends. Said chain then merely draws over said pulley, and its friction thereon lessens the rapidity of its descent. When the basket is asceudin g, the chain movesmoreeasily, because the dog then allows the ratchet-wheel to turn freely under it, and of course there is no impedimentto the rotation ofthe pulley d2,eXcept the friction of said dog on the inclined faces ofthe ratchet-teeth.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a building with a track running around the same at or under the roof, and with pulleys which are supported on said track and move thereon, endless chains being passed over said pulleys, and having devices for facilitating escape-such as buckets or chains-attached to them. I therefore do not claim, broadly, the said construction and combination of tire-escape apparatus; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The track B, extending around a building below the roof, without sharp angles at the corners, in combination with fire-escape devices arranged to travel thereon, a horizon tal rod, C, supported at or above the edge of the roof, and a supplemental ladder, I, )rovided with hooks i t', whereby it may be attached to said rod C to allow parties on the roof to reach said lower tire-escape devices, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with track B and block D, having pulleys d d2 and hook d', an endless chain passing over the lower pulley, and a basket which is attached to said chain, for the purpose set forth.

3. A block, D, having pulleys d d2 and track B, on which pulley d runs,in combination with chain E, provided with 'a spring hook or catch which detachably secures the ends of the chain together and the bail of the basket to said chain, substantially as set forth.

4. A metallic basket consisting ot' open-work bottom F', having eyesf, rim F2, having eyes f2, bail F3, and folding side links, f3, in colubnation with chain E, block D, and track B, substantially as set forth.

5. In a tire-escape, the combination of pulley d2 and the endless chain passing over the same, with the ratchet-wheel O, turning with said pulley, and the dog P, engaging with said ratchet, for the purpose of preventing the rotation of said pulley when the basket attached to said chain is descending, but allowing the rotation of said pulley when said basket rises, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES PAPPA.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS E. HAMILTON, F. H. Hows. 

